Fated To Three, And I Broke Them All

Verity:

”Come on. Tell me where he is. It’s just that I think I deserve to know,” she said, faking a sad pout.

But there was something else in her eyes.

Anger.

Why?

Did she really believe my brother was an abuser?

”I don’t think it would be healthy for either of us to talk about him or where he’s buried,” I said, trying to turn away.

I felt her hand wrap around my arm.

At that moment, I realized she wasn’t going to hide it anymore.

She forced me to look back at her.

Her thread-like fingers wrapped tightly around my arm, her nails digging into my skin.

She pulled herself closer and brought her face next to my ear.

”Your brother fucking ruined my life. My peace of mind. I still get nightmares about him chasing me through the woods with that knife. Those—,” she paused, making me close my eyes and clench my jaw.

”Anyway, I’ll find out where he’s buried. You don’t have to tell me,” she muttered before finally letting go and putting the same fake smile back on her face.

”I heard you’re still a virgin.”

My heart skipped a beat when she said that.

I mean, it wasn’t exactly big news anymore. It has kind of spread around the office recently.

”So, I was wondering what you and your boyfriend do. Are you still that naive little Verity who’s waiting until marriage to lose her virginity? I mean, I’m beginning to wonder how crazy Dr. Roman is too. You know, it’s kind of a waste of his time being with you,” she commented, no longer pretending to be nice.

The clearest thing in her voice was that she genuinely hated my brother.

There was something about her.

She always disguised her hatred behind that reason, so everyone thought it was justified.

She was the ultimate victim.

”Why would Dr. Roman date a woman he can’t even fuck?” she asked, gently touching her chin.

”Think about it,” she added.

”Anyway, if you’ve finished looking around this place, I’d like to lock it up,” she mumbled, holding up the keys, subtly hinting that Ragnar had now given them to her.

So now, every time I had to come here to prepare for an event, I would have to ask her for the keys.

I smiled before I started walking out.

She made sure to grab her purse and walk past me so she would be the one to leave first.

Then, as I walked past her, she slammed the door, twirling the keys before locking the entrance.

I didn’t stop.

I just shook my head in disbelief and continued down the hallway, until I reached the main living area.

The silence haunted my every step because Ragnar was sitting there with several files spread across the table.

It looked like he was really busy.

I slowed down, then turned my head back toward the hallway.

Gigi would be there any second.

And, well, this would piss her off.

I walked straight toward Ragnar.

”Hello, sir,” I said, greeting Ragnar.

He snapped his head up from the files to acknowledge me.

He didn’t respond out loud.

He simply nodded before returning to the files.

”Are those the files for the meeting on the 27th?” I asked, making him slowly raise his head and tilt it toward me.

”I mean, I’m really sorry it had to be postponed to the next 27th,” I said, trailing off.

I understood, and I wanted him to know I was grateful that he had postponed it after the attack on me.

”It’s the day after tomorrow. Did you even check your emails?” he asked.

I anxiously glanced to my left to see whether Gigi was coming.

She was.

”I’m so sorry. I guess I hadn’t,” I said before quickly wrapping the scarf around my neck.

By then, I had already seen Ragnar staring at my face, but I wasn’t sure whether he had noticed the bruises.

Even if he had, he wouldn’t fucking care.

”Actually, I wasn’t at home. I’ve been really busy and couldn’t find the time to check my laptop,” I said as I hastily opened my emails on my phone.

”Oh, yes. You emailed me,” I sighed.

He just watched my face as though he were bored, as if it didn’t matter what excuse I gave. The outcome was the same.

I had missed the email.

”Actually, I haven’t received a copy of the files I’m supposed to study,” I added, using a deliberately squeaky voice to show that I wasn’t going to call him out.

The truth was, he was supposed to give me the files so I could work on them too.

Just as I had planned, he gestured for me to sit down on the sofa.

He was hunched so low over the table that his big, imposing figure looked like a mountain sitting on top of another mountain.

I lowered myself onto the sofa, noticing Gigi arrive.

She studied us for a moment before taking the sofa right next to the couch Ragnar was sitting on.

Gigi seemed really bothered.

She shifted around constantly for the first five minutes, but she was careful not to make too much noise.

I began to wonder about their dynamic.

Of course, Ragnar loved her deeply.

But there was also an element of respect.

Gigi respected him.

She didn’t utter a single word and had even put her phone on silent just to make sure she didn’t disturb him.

I understood that she was walking on eggshells around him, or at least trying to show him how important he was to her.

”Is it okay if I sit here? I hope I won’t bother you,” she asked in a very gentle tone.

I noticed Ragnar look at her before smiling.

”Of course not. I could never be bothered by you.”

As he said that, I noticed Gigi smile.

Then her eyes shifted to me.

I didn’t know what point she was trying to prove to me.

What did I have to do with anything she was accusing my brother of?

Or was it simply that I reminded her she had lied about my brother?